The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is again on an international tour to preach to foreign audiences his message of inter-civilisational, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, understanding, goodwill and peace.
Speaking two days ago at the Meiji University in Tokyo, where he was conferred an honorary doctorate, Abdullah said that dialogue between cultures and civilisations has now become another pre-condition to achieving the global goals of peace, security and prosperity.
He said dialogue could bridge the gap and generate greater understanding between cultures and civilisations especially between the West and the world of Islam.
He said: “This dialogue is essential to expose and establish the fact that Islam is a religion which espouses universalism, not exclusivity. Islam is a religion which does not make any distinction between race or culture.”
The university had specially requested Abdullah to speak on Islam and Islam Hadhari for his keynote address on “Bridging the Gap Between Cultures and Civilisations”.
It is sad and even pathetic however that the Prime Minister’s international message is being ignored locally, even by his own Cabinet.
The Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has confirmed that the Cabinet yesterday again discussed Manchester United’s July visit to play in Malaysia — the second time the issue was raised in two consecutive weekly meetings.
Malaysians are very concerned that the Cabinet has a very misplaced sense of priorities when it has absolutely no time at all in its last two meetings for the issue of the last-minute cancellation of the international Islam-Christianity Interfaith “Building Bridges” Conference to be chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, “Humanity in Context: Christian and Muslim Perspectives” on May 7 — 11, 2007.
Why didn’t the Cabinet take note of the grave damage to Malaysia’s international reputation as model of inter-religious harmony, goodwill and harmony and the credibility of the Prime Minister as moderate Muslim leader and advocate of inter-religious and inter-civilisational dialogue caused by the last-minute cancellation of the Islam-Christianity Inter-faith Conference and its continuing as an international sore point against Malaysia?
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that one of the comments International Advisory Panel (IAP) members — many of whom are renowned academicians and industry experts – who met last week over the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) was that Malaysian students are perceived to be incurious who lack a “questioning culture” and are too passive. “They also lack questioning skills, are not too curious and too readily accept facts told to them”.
Are Malaysian students to be blamed for such “incurious and unquestioning culture” when this is the direct result of the national educational and political system — and such passive attitude which “too readily accept facts told to them” is best illustrated by the Cabinet at the top of the national pile.
Why was there not a single Cabinet Minister who dared to be “questioning” enough to inquire about the last-minute cancellation of the Building Bridges Inter-faith Conference when this was the favourite theme of the Prime Minister in international forums and when the Conference had been planned for the past one year with prior and specific clearance and approval by the Prime Minister’s Department?
Abdullah had said publicly that the Building Bridges Inter-faith Conference had not been cancelled but postponed as it clashed with “some urgent matters” of the Prime Minister that coincided with the dialogue.
What are these “urgent matters” which justified the last-minute cancellation of the Interfaith Conference?
What are the new dates given by the Prime Minister for the “postponed” Building Bridges Conference 2007? Or will it be “postponed indefinitely” until after the next general election, with no guarantee or certainty that the 2007 Conference would be held in Malaysia at all?
It is sad and a national tragedy that the present Cabinet seemed determined to prove former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad right again and again that it is a “half-past six Cabinet”!
It should be obvious that there is a major difference between Manchester United and Building Bridges Interfaith Dialogue. The first represents opportunities for some to make money from event promotion, advertisements and MU’s memorabilia whilst the latter the risks of alienation of muslim voters’ support from politicisation of the issue by pro Islamic groups!
The opportunity for the PM to show the world that his walk is the same as his talk is gone, blown to pieces. Malaysia is now in the world’s radar, not as a modern moderate place where diverse cultures coexist in peace, but as a place where fundamentalist and extremist is taking roots.
So sad…
“This dialogue is essential to expose and establish the fact that Islam is a religion which espouses universalism, not exclusivity. Islam is a religion which does not make any distinction between race or culture.â€Â
LIES, LIES AND DAMN LIES.
“Abdullah said that dialogue between cultures and civilisations has now become another pre-condition to achieving the global goals of peace, security and prosperity.”
LIES, LIES AND DAMN LIES. What he received from the uni is the Doctorate of Lying.
A honorary doctorate is not worth the paper it is printed on and is merely a token of appreciation; much like a certificate of attendance at a seminar.
Our PM’s frequent overseas trips indicate that he prefers to avoid the many simmering problems back home and it was really bad manners to cancel/postpone the international conference with 2 weeks notice. Such imperial behaviour!
http://malaysiawatch2.blogspot.com/2007/05/man-u-and-building-bridges-2-0-for.html
I am sad that our PM has time to talk about inter-faith dialogue overseas when he let slip an important Building Bridges InterFaith Dialogue in Malaysia.
It seems to me that there is a gap between what he is saying and what he is doing.
He speaks in lofty terms but he seems to be unaware of the contradiction between his words and his actions.
When he says “dialogue between cultures and civilisations has now become another pre-condition to achieving the global goals of peace, security and prosperity,” and “dialogue could bridge the gap and generate greater understanding between cultures and civilisations especially between the West and the world of Islam,
one need to practice such goals and ideals in one’s own country first between the Muslims and Non-Muslims, not just “between the West and the world of Islam”. If we are not a credible model how can we be a show-case to the world?
When he says that “This dialogue is essential to expose and establish the fact that Islam is a religion which espouses universalism, not exclusivity. Islam is a religion which does not make any distinction between race or culture,†I am confused by such a statement. Isn’t the NEP implemented in the Islamic way a way of making distinctions between race and culture? If what he says is true about Islam, shouldn’t the NEP be considered haram?
Our PM’s speech raises more questions than answers for me.
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that one of the comments International Advisory Panel (IAP) members – many of whom are renowned academicians and industry experts – who met last week over the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) was that Malaysian students are perceived to be incurious who lack a “questioning culture†and are too passive. “They also lack questioning skills, are not too curious and too readily accept facts told to themâ€Â.
Unquestioning students grows into unquestioning adults. This will give the government the freedom to do whatever it wants. Isn’t that what the BN government wants?
So, what’s all this talk of uncurious and unquestioning students?
This government not only expects students to have these traits but also the academics
as well.
Remember, when the NEP figures were disputed, the government wants the public to shut-up and accept its figures as correct?
Doesn’t it appear to be inept for the speaker to talk about incurious and unquestioning students? I don’t think that the international communities have as short a memory as Malaysians. They know the fools in the Malaysian government and must be laughing behind their backs!
Fortunately, there is still the DAP & Uncle Lim who not only grill the BN nincompoops but also keep roasting them!
Well done!
I don’t think we should equate Islam with the NEP as that would defile the religion.
After the expiry date of the NEP years ago, the NEP’s main purpose is to keep the ruling elites wealthy with crony projects and the accumulation of wealth.
With the much bloated civil service that has grown about 23% since 2000,it seems that the ruling party is also using civil servants to keep them in power.
SO WHAT? KERMIT THE FROGGIE ALSO GOT ONE-LAH
Some universities and colleges have been accused of granting honorary degrees in exchange for large donations. Honorary degree recipients, particularly those who have no academic qualifications, have sometimes been criticized if they insist on being called “Doctor” as a result of their award, as the honorific may mislead the general public about their qualifications. The practice of awarding honorary degrees to celebrities has also been criticised. Detractors argue that such honorary degrees debase the value of a degree and are publicity stunts by the university in an attempt to obtain media attention by capitalizing on the popularity of a celebrity’s name. Various honorary degree recipients have been criticised for not being meritorious.
The awarding of an honorary degree to political figures almost always prompt protests from faculty or students. In 2001, George W. Bush received an honorary degree from Yale University where he had earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 1968. Some students and faculty chose to boycott the university’s 300th commencement…..In 1996 Southampton College at Long Island University (now a campus of SUNY Stony Brook) awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Amphibious Letters to muppet Kermit the Frog. Although some students objected to awarding a degree to a puppet, Kermit delivered an enjoyable commencement address and the small college received considerable press coverage….
In 2007, Edinburgh University revealed plans to review its honorary degree policy and strip certain figures of their honorary degrees who did not deserve them (the first on the list is likely to be Robert Mugabe). They also plan to have a more strict procedure and selection of potential recipiants of honorary degrees in an attempt to rectify the current trend of awarding degrees to celebrities.
Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree
Forget about Manchester United, they are way overrated. We should bring over the real champions, Liverpool instead.
You can always “talk big” overseas to show that you are moderate and sensible or you champion the rights of the less privileged. But when it comes to your own backyard, you must always think how best to get the maximum support and votes.
It seems like Pak Lah preaching this in Japan, it need to have that Bridge dialogue. If no need to preach, maybe he don’t even response.
Pak LAh and his Cabinet – “All work and no play makes AAB a dull boy”.
So, play on and fiddle on, Pak lah, while Malaysia tumbles to the ground.
By now you should know that Pak Lah is play acting:
Examples:
1. When Johore was flooded, he could fly to perth to officiate his brother’s nasi kandar restaurant.
2. He praised Raja Nazrin for refusing state fund for the latter’s wedding celebration, but he does not want to cancel the luxury jet .
Aiya, he cakap tak serupa dengan bikin!!!
Our cabinet says “no problem MU, play on” But you see MU cannot “play on” because they have to respect rules, regulations and laws set by FIFA and the international community, something our cabinet doesn’t know much about…..for our cabinet “law” means……”aiyaa just buy off the judges and lawyers lah” mentality which they think is applicable world wide and therefore you have our Badawi “instructing” FAM to ask MU to play on……this episode will show the world how dumb our PM and cabinet is. It also shows they have no understanding of the phrase “respect the law”. A contract in government service is as worthless as tissue paper………
some people who dont know may think that they are scare to go for the conference as not many religion on earth other than cults prohibit their believers from denouncing their faith without purnishment. u just cannot force people to continue believing in something that are not true and they no longer believe in. The truth will prevail! Dont playX2 with true God!
AAB said: “This dialogue is essential to expose and establish the fact that Islam is a religion which espouses universalism, not exclusivity. Islam is a religion which does not make any distinction between race or culture.â€Â
confuse, confused, confusion .
“not exclusivity” ?
“no distinction between race or culture” ?
“message of inter-civilisational, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, understanding, goodwill and peace.” ?
“dialogue between cultures and civilisations has now become another pre-condition to achieving the global goals of peace, security and prosperity. “?
“the Prime Minister’s international message is being ignored locally, even by his own Cabinet.”
universalism ?
too high standard, cannot understand.
way beyond comprehension, cannot dig.
cakap tak serupa bikin.
wayang kulit, cerita dongeng ?
Quote of the day “….. Islam is a religion which does not make any distinction between race or culture.†.
– Practice what you preach, only people outside Malaysia will believe this!!
What is the priority? playing football is more important than Building Bridges Inter-faith Dialogue? What type of message u want to send to Malaysian and the world? dont waste our tax payer money!!! after pay rise and still behave the same, old dog cant change their behaviour over night.If playing football is more important,just go for full time playing football and let Man-U run the cabinet! Dont playX2 with our beloved country’s future!
It takes a devil to talk about another devil.
Mostly is bcos their sons and duahgters are all crazy about MU and it is therefore very important for them to get this show going and they can again flaunt their VVIP status when the big day comes.
But what can they talk about in religion? They are so clueless in that aspect. All they know is karaoke every friday.
i think Man-U should be banned from coming to Malaysia all together as it carries the symbol of RED DEVIL. Who on earth with sane mind will carry the devil symbol openly and worship it unless u are evil !
Dont playX2 with devil, it will destroy everything and not to build!
PAS – it is time to voice out your objection loudly and not complaining that the loud speakers of the mosque are not loud enough!!
Pak Lah is right…Islam in its true form does not make any distinction between race or culture.
Islam is the most misunderstood religion in the world.
Islam is not the most misunderstood religion in the world, it is the most misleading religion in the world! leading all the people to “Holland”. Have u ever wonder why? becos u can see the fruits of their followers! it is wrong belief system!
UMNO has always staked its traditional legitimacy and claim as the sole representative of the Malay – Muslim community, more conversant in Islamic discourse than its main rival PAS.
Speeches in international arena and forums to champion the Cause and Aspirations of Islam by UMNO politicians in general and the PM in particular are aimed, in a large part, at its Malay-Muslim constituency back home for domestic consumption to bolster the said traditional legitimacy and claim; and in part to cement solidarity with fellow Muslim countries in Middle East to attract Arab Capital to the country.
Ex premier Tun Dr Mahathir had being doing this and present PM is just taking a leaf and doing the same with a major difference : the former took a confrontational stance to attack the US, the Jews and the West and exploited the pervasive anti US and Western sentiments exacerbated by US/UK led geopolitical incursions into Afghanistan and Iraq, with pressure exerted at present on Iran in relation to its fast developing nuclear program. The later (present PM) with supposedly stronger Islamic credentials (being born to born to a prominent religious family and a graduate of Islamic studies) take a different more conciliatory and bridging stance – Islam Hadhari as bridge to avert the conflict between Islamic and Western Cultures and Civilisations as depicted by Harvard Professor, Samuel P Huntington in his book †The Clash of Civilisationsâ€Â.
It is a positive, correct and enlightened stance. Today more than ever the West is perceived using international institutions, military power and economic resources to run the world in ways that will maintain Western predominance, protect Western interests and promote Western political and economic values which is resented by Arab masses because it encroaches onto Islamic lands, the flahpoints of all kinds of conflicts, abduction, suicide bombing etc.
To preach understanding and mutual accommodation (between civilsations) is of course a more proactive approach than to challenge the hegemony of the West as what TDM did, something which the PM, as ex foreign minister with good penchant for diplomacy is at a vantage position to advocate.
But what people take issue here is that when pursuing the international objective in service of the domestic political agenda, the domestic agenda should not neglect the wider Malaysian agenda encompassing Malaysians of all races. After all he did claim to be a Prime Minister for all Malaysians and he addressed Meiji University in that capacity rather than as President of UMNO.
In the Malaysian context, the most urgent imperative of the Malaysian agenda is, as what Kit says, to promote inter-religious harmony, goodwill and harmony between the different races here and to construct the civilisational bridge between the different ‘civilisations and cultures’ here which of late have been strained by the spate of controversial cases involving muslim converts and judicial decisions repudiating civil jurisdictions relating to Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution.
In this connection, the last-minute cancellation of the Islam-Christianity Inter-faith Conference against the backdrop of the gag order on discussions on 121(1A) is perceived as over bending backward accommodation of the demands of the more vociferous Islamic pressure groups in neglect of the legitimate anxieties of Malaysians of non Islamic cultural identity aggravated by recent develpments earlier mentioned.
And of course it would be difficult to envisage how the civilisational conflict in the wider international arena can be bridged by dialogue when the same cannot be effected back home.
They say charity begins at home : so prior to the advocacy for inter-religious dialogue in the international stage, there must first be evinced a preparedness to do the same back home – for the credibility of such an advocacy to be driven home.
This is the thrust of what YB Kit points out here.
AAB, Will you also tell the Japanese that your religion snatches away dead bodies from their families before funerals and young children from their parents and separate husbands from their wives?
Did you also tell them that freedom of religion in Malaysia is freedom to join your religion and not to leave it?
And do tell us how the above fit into your description of your religion as one that ” espouses universalism”.
AAB, you are greatest liar Malaysia ever had as PM. You can unashamedly lie with a straight face.
Perhaps Pak Lah means to say that Islam can take root in all cultures and is universal in the sense that it is not a religion meant for a particular race or people (like Judaism, for instance). I would agree with him.
But so are the other religions, namely, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and “natural” religions.
True freedom of worship (e.g liberty for all, including Muslims, to chose their religion) is lacking in Muslim societies. In this Muslims lag behind the rest of the world.
Leaders must educate the masses to recognise the importance of liberty in choice of religion – a difficult task in a democracy, where leaders often shirk their duty to lead in matters of morality. Their principle role is to reflect the views of the electorate, their source of political support.
Do you expect Abdullah Badawi to go against the wishes of the majority of Malays and encourage Muslim-Christian dialogue where Christians are equal dialogue partners?
Still, I agree with all our commentators that such dialogue is necessary even if it is politically inexpedient.
why tell the japanese? dont u think the japanese (not all but majority) also got wrong belief system? u can preach to them any thing and they will smile and bow to u, but inside their brains, the emperor is still their god and they believe so even to the extend to die for him!! that’s why they still cannot say sorry and apologise to world war two WWII victims from the bottom of their hearts.Their god, the emperor still do not ask them to say so and ask for forgiveness! how can the god ask for forgiveness? if he does, he wouldnt be god any more in his own believe system! he is god after all to the japanese!! thank God that south east asia didn’t ruled by him after WWII, else he will be my god,too. Kalau tidak, panchung leheh tau!! dont playX2 with japanese god, the emperor!
///He (AAB) said: “This dialogue is essential to expose and establish the fact that Islam is a religion which espouses universalism, not exclusivity. Islam is a religion which does not make any distinction between race or culture.â€Â///
AAB is totally correct that Islam accepts all followers without making any distinction between race and culture. It is when the people who are not Islam in the country administered by AAB that clear discrimination is made based on race and culture.
If AAB intended to say the right thing as the leader of mutiracial and multireligious Malaysia, he should have said that following the teaching of Islam as a Muslim he would govern the country fairly without making distinction between race and culture.
Well, he was giving lecture on Islam, and I suppose it was his knowledge about Islam that he was awarded the honour. I suppose he could follow Anwar on lecture circuit after his retirement.
“message of inter-civilisational, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, understanding, goodwill and peace”
some people just couldn’t help talking through [deleted]at all times.
sounds like [deleted] come to think of it, this action can also be defined as leaking.
http://iloveumalaysia.blogspot.com/
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has completely misplaced his sense of priority. What a pity as a chief steward of the country.
hahahaha
isn’t that a norm?
i already heard people laughing at Malaysia Boleh slogan becomes Malaysia Boleh Kalah!
Student converts on fear of failing electrical course .
Malaysiakini | Andrew Ong | May 24, 07 2:06pm
In a matter of three hours, the 19-year-old aspiring electrician who was enrolled in a state-run vocational institute became a Muslim. He claims to signing the document for fear of being failed from his course.
Mais: He is a Muslim
‘PM must intervene’
Lawyer: Against the law .
Remember KJ is a huge fan of Manchester United
HORNBILL: “So, play on and fiddle on, Pak lah, while Malaysia tumbles to the ground.”
He is fiddling all right – even in his sleep. Don’t fiddle too much or you may go blind!
Talk about globalisation, the England’s soccer matches have successfully captured the interest of many people around the world. A genuine knowledgeable soccer lover would know that England’s soccer matches are televised more than any other teams of other countries. The mass media makes them look like they are champions of the world. However the real fact of the matter is that teams from other countries are greater. The first four teams who made it into the 2006 world cup championship were Italy, France, Germany and Portugal. Mass media and influence work very well together. I wonder how it would be like if one day the England people choose just the Red Devils to compete in the World Cup championship, instead of choosing one from every team ? Can the Red Devils triumph over Italy, France, Germany and Portugal ?
Soccer has no boundaries. Any race, any religion, any person can choose to have this interest in soccer.
Inviting Man U to come over is like saying ” let us forget the burdensome issues for say 2 hours “. You happy. Me happy. After the match is over, then we talk. It is a psychological warfare. Probably feeling pleased with watching Man U’s action, you give way more easily.
As for the unquestioning culture among the students, it is more because of the fear of being shamed, embarrassed and being suppressed. If there is one popular traditional word, it is the word of ” malu “. Why can’t people have solid objective reasons instead ? ” Malu ” is subjective.
In the Western world, students are allowed and encouraged to speak up. In the Asian culture, this would mean impoliteness. The second the student wishes to express something, the second the parent or the teacher or the adult guardian would look at him her with those angry eyes. So the student learns through the years to just keep quiet and to be ” humble “. The junior worker who has his her way of doing things is stopped so often by the senior worker and through the years also, he she learns to obey instructions, never questions and the reward will be a promotion, a good confidential report and a happy life.
Why does everyone, including Cabinet members, want to see a mis-match? Malaysian Selection Vs Manchester United? You got to be kidding!! Whole stadium cheering MU over the Malaysian Selection? My God, what are they thinking?
And this goes all the up to Cabinet level? The international community must be laughing at our tin-pot cabinet who got nothing better to do than to discuss a friendly football mis-match.
MU did the right thing by cancelling the match. They respect rules and agreements. Our government does the opposite. We should not be shamed by the foolishness of our leaders.
When MU plays with the Msian Team, they MUST gv 30% handicap. What to do. You expect the us to fight on level playing field? This is no Theatre of Dreams.
aiyah…makan bola, tidur bola, son-in-law minat bola, dpm suka bola
son-in-law bola fanatic…set up Myteam
dpm fanatic bola… crazy bout EPL
they are just bringing their favourite team for their own pleasure…
why not think of ways to improve the national team.. which is plague with problems….
It’s okay after all KJ need to have the publicity with international team
# smeagroo Says:
‘When MU plays with the Msian Team, they MUST gv 30% handicap. What to do. You expect the us to fight on level playing field? This is no Theatre of Dreams.’
Perhaps the MU team goalmouth should made twice as big as M’sian side’s goal mouth…. same concept as NEP …… to narrow the difference/gap..
Many countries thought that Malaysia is a great country. When you live in this country for years, you would know more and a lot more.